Clifford the Big Red Dog BE BIG In Your Community Contest

The BE BIG Fund to award $50,000 In Community Grants

To The BIGGEST Ideas Inspired By Clifford’s Big Ideas

It only takes a little…to BE BIG!

In celebration of National Volunteer Week, the “Be Big In Your Community Contest” as part of its ongoing Clifford The Big Red Dog® BE BIG!™ campaign (www.scholastic.com/cliffordbebig) to support civic engagement. The national contest invites kids of all ages, teachers, parents and community leaders to submit a BIG idea that demonstrates Clifford’s Big Ideas (Share, Help Others, Be Kind, Be Responsible, Play Fair, Be a Good Friend, Believe in Yourself, Have Respect, Work Together and Be Truthful) to enter for a chance to win a community grant to be used towards implementing the winning proposals. One (1) grand prize entry will be honored with a $25,000 community grant and ten (10) runner up entries will each be honored with a $2,500 community grant (via HandsOn Network affiliate organizations or designees) from the Be Big Fund. (www.handsonnetwork.org)  The mission of the Be Big Fund is to recognize and reward others for their BE BIG actions, catalyze change in local communities and provide resources to share BIG ideas.

“Scholastic is delighted to sponsor the “Be Big In Your Community Contest” and provide children and families the opportunity to make a real difference in their community,” said Deborah Forte, President of Scholastic Media and Executive Vice President of Scholastic Inc, the global children’s publishing, education and media company.  “The BE BIG campaign is about inspiring people of all ages to work together to embrace Clifford’s Big Ideas each and every day. The contest serves as a call to action for those committed to espousing the ideals of Clifford’s Big Ideas to improve the lives of others while taking pride in service to their community.”

“National Volunteer Week is the perfect time to celebrate youth engagement in service” said Michelle Nunn, CEO of Points of Light Institute and co-founder of HandsOn Network. “HandsOn Network is thrilled to join Scholastic in helping people to take action in support of Clifford’s Big Ideas to make a difference.” HandsOn Network, (www.handsonnetwork.org) a key operating arm of Points of Light Institute, is the largest volunteer management organization in the nation.  The organization equips, mobilizes and inspires people to take action that change the world.

On Tuesday, April 21 and Wednesday, April 22, in conjunction with HandsOn Network affiliate organizations, hundreds of children will participate in BE BIG in school events nationwide. In New York City, Philadelphia, Miami, Atlanta and Chicago, Clifford The Big Red Dog will appear to join teachers and students to celebrate what it means to BE BIG.

Scholastic Inc. has launched “The Be Big in Your Community Contest” in support of CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG® and the BE BIG™ initiative. The contest calls upon kids, parents, teachers, and community leaders to submit their BIG ideas for creating positive change in their communities by demonstrating Clifford’s Big Ideas; Share, Play Fair, Have Respect, Work Together, Be Responsible, Be A Good Friend, Help Others, Be Truthful, Be Kind and Believe In Yourself. The BE BIG Fund will help bring the winning BIG idea to life by awarding one (1) Grand Prize $25,000 community grant and ten (10) runner-up $2,500 community grants to implement the winning BIG ideas via HandsOn Network local affiliate organizations. Submit your idea at www.scholastic.com/cliffordbebig and remember….IT ONLY TAKES A LITTLE TO BE BIG!

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.  Contest starts April 20, 2009 and ends on June 26, 2009.